5-star DT Hosts Schiano for In-home Visit

Brian Dohn

01/27/2011

McKeesport (Pa.) High five-star defensive tackle Delvon Simmons crossed Rutgers off his list last month, but he put the Scarlet Knights back on it, and in a significant way. He hosted Rutgers coach Greg Schiano for an in-home visit Wednesday night, and ScarletReport.com has the goods on what happened.

Five-star defensive tackle Delvon Simmons welcomed Rutgers offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti into McKeesport (Pa.) High on Wednesday, and by the time the day ended Scarlet Knights coach Greg Schiano was doing an in-home visit.

Once out of the picture, Rutgers is now involved again in the recruitment of Scout.com's No.3 rated defensive tackle in the 2011 class.

"I don't think Delvon knows where he's going to go at this time," McKeesport High coach Jim Ward said. "We're having a function at our school. Probably around 11:20 (a.m.) Delvon will make a decision."

Simmons told Rutgers last month he was no longer considering the school, but as Wednesday's signing day approaches, and the prospect of leaving home for school grows nearer, Simmons is broadening his options.

The 6-foot-5, 262-pound Simmons is visiting USC this weekend. His other finalists are Rutgers, Pittsburgh, Oregon and Texas Tech. He made an official visit to Rutgers in September.

"The impression left by Rutgers was a very position one," Ward said. "I think Delvon just wants, when he comes back from USC and sits down to make a decision, that he has another option that is closer to home, that he can decide from.

"If he decides, ‘I don't want to go away from home. I want to go someplace closer,' and he he was looking at USC, Oregon and Texas Tech, it's ‘I know have Rutgers and Pitt to decide from instead of it being just one school.' "

Ward said Wednesday started with Cignetti visiting the school, and with Schiano in New Jersey.

"We talked about it the night before," Ward said. "He was willing to see Frank Cignetti come into the school and sit down and listen to him. Frank came in and showed him a few things, and got coach Schiano on the phone, and they asked if he would see coach Schiano, and he did.

"I know the meeting was real positive. I know how he feels about coach Schiano. Delvon is really impressed by him."

McKeesport is hosting a signing day ceremony, and it is possible Simmons doesn't decide until that morning.

"It's been a rollercoaster recruiting and it's been going on since (the spring), and sometimes as time goes on, there are things that become important to you," he said. "I don't know everything that went on last night, but I think each time coach Schiano meets with Delvon, he enjoys the conversation, he feels comfortable with him and things like that."